adminFreedom Mutanda
Hardly a month has passed since the death of a woman in the Manesa area when a rampaging bull buffalo gored her to death as onlookers looked on helplessly after they themselves had scurried for cover while the marauding animal pranced about and showed its power over human beings.
Once again, people have to live in terror because one of the big five, the lion, the king of the jungle, is making life unbearable for Nyunga and Gwama residents who live in perpetual fear throughout the night and only heave a sigh of relief when daylight comes.
The headmen include Mugari, Mushakavanhu, Maunganidze and Gwama. People have discounted the notion of these lions as those from the spirit realm (marombo) and attributed their presence to hunger.
Of particular note is the attack on livestock that are the only means of survival for these residents as the rains have failed them resulting in their crops being a complete write- off.
“Look, we thought we may be able to beat the drought as our cattle are very healthy. With the coming of the mop-up rains, pastures took on a green turn. Then, suddenly, lions came at night and killed the cattle even as we heard the roars and attacks. We can’t save our domestic animals. It’s really bad. As the lions move about as if they are a politician who has been given freedom of the city, we are a hapless lot,” one resident, who refused to be named, said, with tears in his eyes.
Lions come from the Rumwe mountain and have been a source of terror for the residents. They have found easy prey in the form of the cattle they attack willy-nilly at night.
Juputa Matsairire (96) has lost seven cattle so far and he is still counting the costs since the lions’ nocturnal attacks seem not to show any signs of ending. An attempt to get a comment from the National Parks officials at Chipangayi did not succeed as the officials said only the company’s public relations officer, can give a comment.
Meanwhile, the people are living in fear and many residents have stopped travelling at night. Consequently, the traditional beer imbibed at night had to be reserved for weekends.
For its part the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Management sent two officers who are heavily outnumbered and in any case, the lions attack livestock while they are on guard.
Online Reporter